Sacramento daily record-union., 1887-08-08

etc.
THF FIRST WITNESS.
Old man Hunt was then brought in to
testify. He was sent up from Los Angeles
for life for numbering man in that coun-
ty. Far from being .driyeling idiot"
with " matted locks he is tall, active
man, intellectually bright, and tells his
story without the least embarrassment.
When asked if be wished the prison officers
to retire, he replied that he did not, what
he had to say he was willing all should
hear. He said: My name is H. G. Hunt,
No. 437; was convicted of murder in the
first degree and sent to prison for life
Have been in Folsom five years and four
months. First worked at grading. Worked
until the 9th day of July two years ago,
when was put in my cell and kept there
for six months. Then / was locked I'D in
solitary confinement for nineteen months,
making twenty-five. months altogether.
The first six months had twenty-five or
thirty minutes exercise each day. Don't
know why was put there. Had
THREE MEALS 4 DAY,
Plain prison food and plenty of it. Five
months ago was put on two meals day by
doctors order. The first six months was
on bean food, which is the ordinary prison
food-meat once day. Had mutton chop
food last five months. Had two months
when we were allowed baths. Last eleven
months had no bathing. When wanted to
bathe, asked fer water. Had bath six
months ago. Since 11th of last month
could have all baths we wanted. We get
clean clothes every week. We draw shoes
every six months, same as other prisoners.
Doctor visits us whenever he is sent for.
Sometimes he calls to see us when he is not
sent for. | sent for him i've or six times
IN yIvhn i bad
him. We are allowed to walk from our
cells to the wash barrel. Since sith of LAST
month had exercise every day
In answer to question, What was
solitary confinement? he replied, 1T was
a place where no white man could live"
In winter the cells are damp, but in this
respect, he said, all the cells In the prison
were alike. Had
BARuEE-sTRAw MATTRESSES;
Two pair blankets in winter and one in
summer; bedding the same as that of other
prisoners; We call it g dungeon He de-
scribed the ventilation of the cells. and
said the light was insufficient to read by.
| will be so years of age September 9th.
Ny sickness is general debility, caused by
close confinement. While sick, did not
get change OF food for three months.
May dangeon bucket was emptied only
once in twenty-four hours Since the I1th
of last month it has been emptied every
day We wash up and keep our cells
clean. We have better treatment now than
! we had before the 1lth. The doctor comes
three or four times week now Have not
seen Warden McComb for TWENTY-FIVE
months until l saw him here to. day. Had
not seen Captain Chambers for two wears.
Mr.. Paul treated me very well since / got
SICK don't know why was put in there
| told htyp pat1lt Iott J. -.
ONE OF THEIR SECRETS.
was not charged with bringing opium
IN 10 the prisoners. l did not attempt to
excite an insurrection. | never was covered
with yermin, and my hair was never
matted. had towel and plenty of water
to wash with. | was eleven months at San
Quentin. l was here fourteen months be.
tore | was punished. / have made nc
threats. l will say this-when l was put
IN solitary Captain Paul searched nv cell
with Rebel George. / told Paul wanted
nothing to do with Rebel George He was
not one of my kind. Paul ordered me Il
come out of my cell. l then told Pau.
there would be q day OF reckoning here.
after L kind of thought because | had
been IN the rebel service l was being pun
ished. My general conduct for months has
been good. | don't know how long am
to be confined there. l am put in, under.
stood, until further orders l was in the
rebel service for three years. / shot q man
once before | committed murder in Los
Angeles. did not kill that man.
WISH TO GOD HAD.
| was in Jail for that act about twenty four
hours. have had coffee three times a day
and plenty TO eat all the time. They found
a knife III nay cell once. ! found it in nv
mattress. 1t had been put there by pris-
oner that had used the bed before me. I
want to be released from the dungeon. I
have been treated badly-been locked up
for nineteen months. Occasionally the
doctor gives me stimulant, and he helps
me every time he does.
Mr.. Wilkins-If you got out would Won
behave yourself?
| Witness-l have. no malice against any
OF these officers. | sent cut word two or
three times that wanted 10 see Chambers.
and word came back that he hadn't time.
HUNTS RECORD.
Hunts record was produced. showing
that at times he was solitarily confined for
terms OF ten or twenty days for striking a
fellow prisoner, for leaving work without
| permission and melting characterization.
Hunt admitted the truth of the record.
but said | want to get out of solitary con-
finement. 1t is my interest to behave N.Y.
| self. will do so if released into the cor
ridor. Know convict Crawford, now de-
ceased. He was in my cell for some
months. He was 63 years old when taken
out TO the hospital. He was convicted of
murder in Plumas county. He was in the
| dungeon twenty-five months, but got better
in the hospital. He now lies over the hill
there in the ground. For the last five
months have had food from the mutton
! chops" table, but other prisoners had grub
| from the bull-beef" table. When sick !
got hospital food for two weeks-mush and
milk, soup, stews, roast mutton, potatoes.
bread and coffee. Get a loaf of bread every
morning, beans. dried apples, etc.
| DR.. Durant, the prison ph 7sician, ex
| planned that Hunt had stomach trouble.
and had been dieted long time for it.
a recess was then taken for an hour for
lunch.
Ben Chambers, Captain Of the guard, tes-
| tified | have been in Folsom seven wears
In reply to Director Deyiin's question to
distinguish between solitary and ordinary
confinement. witness stated, when prisoner
| commits any otfense violating the rules of
the prison report is made to the Warden.
If he approves the culprit is punished by
solitary confinement. Prior to two wears
ago we had other forms Of punishment.
Formerly we fogged and showered the
prisoners as penalties. Hunt, the convict.
said witness, was given a gang of men to
work at grading; found him often idle, and
the men got wrangling, some siding with
and some against him. Never got much
work out of him. He was an old man and
disliked to punish him, as l feared it
might injure his health. Found out later
that he was dealing in opium. Never pun
lshed prisoners on the recommendation of
another convict. Being strictly pressed
with the question, Captain Chambers rcit-
Grated that he never accused prisoner on
the testimony of a fellow w-convict.
HUNTS TRAFFIC IN OPIUM.
Witness related how Hunt was detected
tratficking in contraband opium. When
caught in this work witness ordered Hunt
confined to his cell, but told no prisoners
why Hunt was locked up, as it would re-
veal to the convicts that opium smuggling
was going on. During meal hours Hunt
was confined that he might not peddle his
stuff among the prisoners. At other times
Hunt had the freedom of the whole prison.
No opium has been in the prison since that
time that | know of, for we have guarded
strictly against smuggling it ever since.
Later Hunt, twas found, had been stealing
trifiing articles frem the dining room. We
had another convict to watch him and
search his cell This ves aPahal Cacr,,o -